Hope For The Homeless: Day 1 - Trial, Error, & Preparation

Today didn't exactly go as I'd planned it in my head. However, I did get the preparation completed, as well as the process planned out for when I interview participants for this project. Tomorrow I will try again, this time in the morning. Tonight I tried after the sun had gone down.... and I admit, it was extra creepy.

I did ask one woman if she was interested in being interviewed. I briefly explained the project, and she responded through the few teeth she had, "No, you see, I work for a corporation."

This threw me for a loop as I stared to her right at the pile of garbage bags that held her belongings, and the plastic cup she'd been shaking with change inside it. Her clothes were clearly dirty, as well as her body, and I don't think she works for a corporation at all.

I called my mom, because that's what I do when I don't know what else to do, and she said to try again in the morning when at least it is light out and less scary. She also pointed out that while the woman most likely does not work for a corporation, she very well could believe she does in her head. This reminds me that many of the homeless people we see are far off into their own imaginations, living based on daydreams that they convince themselves to be their realities. Many are sick, mentally and psychologically, and I will have to seek those who are capable of communicating for this to be a success.

Tomorrow is a new day. Tonight I will work on the signs, and I already have my first collaged money jar ready for the first featured participant. I understand it might not be as easy as I had imagined. It will take a lot of guts for people to admit to being homeless... as I'm sure it's not something they are proud of by any means.

Here's to hoping that tomorrow is a much better attempt. But for what it is worth, today has been great in the way that preparation is now complete, and I am equipped with all of the supplies I will need.

For The Love Of Words,

X0.Brittney

Hope For The Homeless

Tonight I was walking home from having dinner at 800 Degrees with my new friend Morgan, a fellow writer, when I passed a homeless woman and asked if she would like my leftover pizza.

There was half of the truffle cheese goodness—three good-sized pieces— remaining, and while I was totally looking forward to cold pizza for lunch tomorrow [that’s the best!], I could not walk by this woman without offering it to her.

She needed it more than I would. Actually, in all honesty, I am fortunate to not NEED it at all. We live in a society where we're taught to think we need so much more than we actually do.

With the holidays around the corner, it feels right to open our hearts to those who are truly in need. It is an epidemic right in front of our eyes, and yet we continue to ignore it because society simply tells us that it's not our problem.

Being surrounded by self-absorbed, soulless conformity can be ultimately draining. The best way to combat a disheartened mentality is to provide an example of how humanity could be— or better yet, how it should be.

We are taught in grade school that we must have three things in order to survive:

Food. Water. Shelter.

The homeless are constantly scrambling for the smallest hint of all of the above.

What we are not taught, however, is the other list of three that we need in order to truly live:

Faith. Hope. Love.

I will be the first to admit that I am terrified of homeless people. I have even gone as far as realizing a correlation between them and that show everyone loves called The Walking Dead.

To be blunt, it is heartbreaking, but we do not see the homeless as human beings. We probably view them as closer to zombies than anything— lifeless beings roaming the streets, begging for next to nothing just to…. Just to breathe.

But you know what? With any ounce of faith, hope, and love, no one would let their family or friends get to that level. We are lacking compassion, and for that, we are all responsible.

We are lacking the ability to care for one another as human beings, with beating hearts. Let’s bring it back; let’s let love take over, heal the world.

We have an overflow of potential. We just need to let go of our selfish tendencies that society has led us to believe we must own, and put the possibility to use already. More than hope.

Starting next week: Each Monday, I will introduce someone new on Caboom-Sass.com and write his/her story as a blog post. It will include an option to donate at the end— to give directly to the person that the post is about.

Each person will be given a sign to display that reads: “Have a Smart Phone? Read my story at Caboom-Sass.com.” with a word-collaged money jar and a few of my business cards, should anyone ask them who or how or why.

Before each post is published, the person will receive coffee/food while chatting with me, as a thank you for their willingness to participate.

For The Love Of Words,

X0.Brittney 

10/11/11... back when it began

On 10/11/11, I took a giant step forward into the world of... vulnerability, I suppose you could say, and created Caboom-Sass.com after years of wanting to, but hesitating. I was filled with fear of what people would think of this idea... and moreover, what people would think of me. I cared so much about that, that it produced this fear of putting my idea out there, but after my summer of living in New York City, I decided that it didn't matter. The people who chose to dislike this idea-- they aren't the ones I'm creating this for anyway. It's for the believers, the go-getters, the "I-want-to-succeed-but-I-need-that-nudge"-ers. It's for the people who have a lack of support and encouragement; to provide them with a pocketful of it. With this project, I feel confident in saying that's exactly what's been manifested here. That's exactly what I've been doing, and I couldn't be more ecstatic to realize how much the power of words has helped others through these small, heartfelt collages.

It all started with this breakthrough blog post, the very first one. Now looking back, we've provided personalized, motivational "Pocketful of Positivity" collages to recipients in cities all over the world, including:
New York, Chicago, Queens, Sarnia, San Francisco, Gibraltar, Rockwood, East Lansing, Detroit, Trenton, Miami, Carleton, Mount Pleasant, Lansing, Nashville, Newport, Ann Arbor, Las Vegas, Dowagiac, Grand Rapids, Rowlett, Glen Burnie, Poyen, Los Angeles, Monroe, Minneapolis, Twentynine Palms, St. Clair Shores, Falmouth, and Malibu.

This doesn't include the random "Scatter Sesh" collages, which are left anonymously in areas like stores and rest-stop bathrooms during various trips I've taken in the past year.

It's all for the love of words and compassion, communication, & connection; that's what it truly comes down to. With that, I'd like to extend a wholehearted, Happy FIRST BIRTHDAY to my project/service, Caboom-Sass.com. Here's to many more and to expanding so much further from here on out! This is only the beginning, with so many ideas to craft in the coming years.

For The Love Of Words*

X0.Brittney

Our first birthday is approaching!!

Nine days remain until Caboom-Sass.com turns ONE! Today we've activated our own official email account: CaboomSassDotCom@gmail.com. Just thought you may like to know :)

For The Love Of Words*

X0X0.